Case for timepieces and the like



Dec. 1, 1953 L. R. BURGHOFF CASE FOR TIME-PIECES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 21 1951 59, [0013" R BuryZaff lma [liven/01 Jfforneysz Patented Dec. 1, 1953 CASE FOR TIMEPIECES AND THE LIKE Louis B. Burghoff, Forest The E. Ingraham Co ville, Conn., assignor to p y,

Bristol, Conn., a

corporation of Connecticut Application August 21, 1951, Serial No. 242,894 I 5 Claims.

This invention relates generally to dial-instruments, and more particularly to timepieces.

It is an important object of the present invention to construct a case for a timepiece, and to make provisions thereon for mounting a movement therein, so that the timepiece is less apt to be disturbed in its performance, or damaged by shock or vibration, than previous timepieces.

It is another object of the present invention to provide the front face of the case of a timepiece with an inwardly-spaced dial-aperture of which the surrounding border serves for the sole support of the entire movement, whereby the movement is isolated from the surrounding case, except near the dial-aperture thereof, so that the case will act as a shock-absorber and assimilate to a maximum extent whatever shock or vibrational forces it may be subjected to before the remainder of these disturbing forces is transmitted to the movement.

Another object of the present invention is to shape the apertured front face of the case so as to l nd pronounced spring-characteristics to the same, thereby to enhance the shock and vibration-proof characteristics of the timepiece.

A, further object of the present invention is to fold back. the front face of the case at the aperture thereof into the form of an interior endless flange and to continue the formation of the same into a recessed seat of which the latter serves for the quick central location of the movement, in its installation, relative to the dial-aperture and the entire case as well, while the flange forms around the dial-aperture a border which is devoid of any sharp edges and pleasantly offsets the customary dial-covering crystal that may conviently be located in the recessed seat also.

It is another object of the present invention to use the interior flange at the dial-aperture of the case as the bottom of the aforementioned recessed seat for the movement, while the remainder of the recessed seat is formed by angularly-spaced rearwardly projecting lug extensions on the flange which after location of the movement on the seat are simply and conveniently bent into interlocking relation with the movement for securely mounting the latter on its seat.

It is a further object of the present invention to form each of the lug extensions on the interior flange of the case with oppositely projecting cam-shaped wings of which one wing of each lug extension may simply be bent inwardly in order securely to wedge the located movement to its seat in a shock and vibration resistant fashion,"

while the other wing of each lug extension may be held in reserve for future use if the companion wing on the same lug-extension should break off in the course of initially mounting the movement, or removing the movement for repair or any other purpose and remounting it in the case.

A further object of the present invention is to construct the above-featured front face of a case for a timepiece in the form of a separate bezel with which the movement may be preassembled in a facile and expeditious manner before the bezel is readily assembled with the open front end of a case of any desired shape without any regard to the mounted movement.

Another object, alternative to the object just mentioned, is to form the featured front face of a case for a timepiece integrally with an openback case, so that the latter may, after facile installation of the movement therein, be closed by a simple back-cover.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide at the aforementioned seat in the front of a case for a timepiece a locating element with which the movement may, in the course of its installation, be readily oriented for its accurate angular location in'the case.

Other objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the art from the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. '1 is a front elevational view of a timepiece having a case which embodies the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, of a certain pre-assembled unit of the timepiece;

Fig. 4 is an end-elevation of the pre-assembled unit of the timepiece as viewed in the direction of the arrow 4 in Fig. 3;

I Fig. 5 is a rear-elevational view of a prominent "part of the case of the timepiece shown in Fig 2; Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. '7 is a sectional View, partly in elevation, of a timepiece having a case which embodies the present invention in a modified manner.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof,:the reference numeral Ill designates a timepiecewhich comprises a case l2 and a conventional. time movement 14 atherein. The case I2 is, in'thee present instance,

formed by a bezel l6 and a back cover l8 of which the former forms the front-wall, and the latter forms the side and back-walls, respectfully, of the case.

The ring-shaped bezel l6 which may be made of sheet metal or any other suitable slightly resilient material, is provided with an aperture 20 for the exposure of, a time clial 22 which is carried by the movement l4 in close proximity to the front or mounting plate 24 thereof. A peripheral portion 26 of the bezel it may be offset outwardly to form a recess 28 for the fitted reception of the open end 30 of the back cover l8 which may be made of a similar material as the bezel 16 and formed into the generalcup s'hape shown in Fig. 2.

An inner marginal portion of the bezel -l6 which surrounds and extends to the dial-aperture 20 is turned or folded back to form an annular flange 32 which is provided with several, in this instance three, equi-angularly spaced integral lugs 34 (Figs. 2, and 6). "The return bend in the bezel H5 at the dial-aperture "thereof may be such as to form around thelatter an endless bead-like protrusion 35 (Figshl and 2).

As shown inFig. 2,;a. peripheralmarg'in of a crystal 38, the time-dial'22 and'the front-plate 24 of the movement 14 areseatedon the interior flange 32 of thebezel l5, and are located thereon by and between the rearwardly extending lugs 34 on the flange32 (Fig. .4). The crystal 38, time dial 22 and movement-plate 24 are firmly secured to the bezel-fiangex32 by inwardly bent wing- .portions 4!! of the lugs=34 (Figs. 2"and 4).

The movement l4 with the time-dial 22 and the crystal .38 are thus mounted solely on the bezel l6, and moreparticularly OntheinteriOr'flange 32 immediately surrounding the dial-aperture 20 thereof,'so. that the movement l4is spaced from any external wall of the casel2. Any shaft or shafts for control or operating knobs of the movement, such as-the shaft42, for instance-may extend with considerable clearance through apertures in the back cover 18 of-the case, such asthe aperture 44, for instance.

By virtue of the mountingof themovement M on the inturned bezelflange '32 in spaced relation withany external wall of'the case 12, the latter acts as an effective shock absorber which will assimilate to a considerable extent any shock or vibrational forccsit may be subjectedto before the remainder, if any,of these disturbing forces is transmitted to the movement I4. The shock and vibration-absorbing properties of the instant case l2 are enhancedby thecross-sectionally curved shape of the bezel l6 which lends it distinct spring characteristics, and also by the beadlike protrusion 36 around the'dial-aperture 20 which adds to'the spring characteristics of the bezel.

Moreover, the lugs 34 and inwardly-bent wing portions '40 thereof have spring characteristics which even further enhance the-shockand vibration-absorbing properties of-the case l2.

Aside from achieving the important objective of rendering the timepiece 10 exceedingly shock and vibrationproof by the specific construction of the case I2, including the bezel l6, and the specified mounting of themovement in the case, the formation of-thebezel 'IG asa separated part permits the most facile pre-assembly of the latter .withthe movement. Thus, the rearwardly extending lugs 34 on-the bezel 'flangei32 serve for :the quick and accurate location. on the latter of the crystal 38 and the front movement-plate 24, whereupon the same are firmlysecured in place I its installation therein, the latter is provided at its internal flange 32 with a preferably integral locatingilnger, or. element 48 (Figs. 2 to 5) with which a distinguishing mark on the time dial 22,

ssuchasithe-houn indicium 6, for instance, may

be-aligned. -After mounting the movement l4 in the'bezel fli as previously described, the end 49 ofthelocatinaelement 48 may be bent into firm engagement with the movement-plate 24 (Fig. 3).

While only one wing-portion 40 on each lug 34 is suiiicient for the purpose of firmly securing the -movement l'4 to the bezel l6, asl'previously explained, two "wingvportions are preferably provided oneach lugrso that onewing-portion there ofimay -beiheldlin reserve for future use if the companion-wing-portion on the same lug should break ofiiin the'course of initially mounting the movement, orremovingthe movementfor repair or any other;purpose.and-remounting it in the bezel. After mounting the .movement l4 and crystal 38 onthebezellfias described, the'unit thus Lpre assembIed may in an equally facile manner be assembledvwith the back cover I8 without any regard .whatever to? the mounted movement.

Referenceis nowhad to Fig. -'7,. in which there is shown a .modifledembodiment of the present invention in the-form of: a case I 2 which is open at its .backendrand has an integral bezel portion l6 that embodies ialllstructural features of the previously described bezel rl:6. :Thus, the bezel portion l.6-:of the casie {IT is of frusto-conical shape to lend it distinct :spring characteristics, and is aalsoflprovidedratitsidial-aperture 20' with an inwardly :tumed annular flange 32 which serves .as 'avseatiiorthecrystalxiia' and the front plate 24' of the zmovement M. The interior flange 32 ,ofethe bezel-portion l6 oi'the casel2 is also provided with several, (preferably three,

equi-angularspaced:integral. lugs 34' which serve for the quick and a'ccurate location of the superposed parts '38 andlucon'theflange 32, while theinwardly l-bent wingtportions '40 of the respective lugs'34 securlyi'hold these parts on the flangefi32'.. To. close the instant case I2, any suitable cover plate :50is :"appliecl to the open-backend thereof.

The: invention may :be carried 1 out. in other specific ways thantthose hereinset forth without departing from the spiritand essential characteristics of the inventiongiand thezpresent embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and=notrestrictive, and all changes coming within'themeanin'g and equivalency range of'the appended. claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A timepiece,: comprising a case having outer back, side and. front walls of slightly resilient material of which said front-wall is provided with a dialeaperture spaced inwardly from said side wall, and a wall extension integral with :saidirontewall andsurrounding said dial-aperture and bieing at 'the latter folded back into zthe {case in spaced relation with said front-wall to form :in asa'id case :an endless flange extending from said dial aperture toward said side wall; a movement; and means sole'y mounting said movement in said case on said flange therein so that said movement is spaced from any of said.

prising a bezel of slightly resilient material adapted for attachment with its circumference to an open-fr0nt case of a timepiece and being provided with a front Wall having a dial-aperture spaced inwardly from the bezels circumference, and. a wall extension integral with said front Wall and surrounding said dial-aperture and being folded back at the latter to form an endless flange spaced from said front-wall and extending from said dial aperture toward the bezels circumference; a movement; and means mounting said movement on said flange.

4. As an article of manufacture, a bezel of slightly resilient material adapted for attachment with its circumference to an open-front case of a timepiece and being provided with a front-wall having a dial-aperture spaced inwardly from said circumference, and a wall extension integral with said front-wall and surrounding said dial-aperture and being folded back at the latter to form an endless flange spaced from said front-wall and extending from said dial aperture toward the bezels circumference, said flange being adapted to serve as a seat for a movement.

5. As an article of manufacture, a single-piece open-back case for a timepiece, said case side and front walls of slightly resilient material of which said front-wall is provided with a dial-aperture spaced inwardly from said side wall, and a wall extension integral with said front-Wall and surrounding said dial-aperture and being at the latter folded into the case in spaced relation with front-Wail to form in said case an endless flange extending from said dial aperture toward said side well, said flange being adapted to serve a seat for a movement.

LOUIS R. BURGHOFF.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 566,537 Lane Aug. 25, 1896 1,779,407 Bieser Oct. 23, 1939 1,939,762 Carlson Dec. 19, 1933 2,317,322 Whitehead Apr. 26, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 43,206 Switzerland Apr. 21, 196B 

